Jonny's Best of Europe: Lancia Fulvia HF

"Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)" (thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 09:00 • Filed to: BEST OF EUROPE, LANCIA FULVIA HF, RALLY, WRC, ITALY, LANCIA, DRIVING SPIRIT, JONNY EDGE

When I think, and I mean really think about all of the cars I've been fortunate enough to see at the motor shows, events, and festivals I've attended, it really is rather incredible. I've been up close to some of the most desirable cars ever produced. Out of all of those cars it's hard to pick one out and say 'that was my favourite', but I can say which ones suprised me or kept me around longer than I thought they would.

This is one of those cars; the Lancia Fulvia HF. In my experience at least, it is rare that you go to a motor show and a Fulvia won't be in attendance, there's almost always one there somewhere. It's usually placed well out of the way of the 'big guns' of the event, the 'show stoppers' no, it won't be found near those guys.

The first time I saw one is etched into my memory as if it was yesterday. Seeing one of these for the first time in the metal catches you out a bit. They look even better than they do in the pictures you've seen a thousand times before. So I froze, I thought, and I remained there taking it all in.

The Fulvia HF (standing for 'High Fidelity', an Italian racing club) is one of the most jaw-dropping cars I have ever come across, it is small yet perfectly formed. A car you take a full 360 degree walk around to truly appreciate just how good it looks from every conceivable angle. It's really very special indeed, but to get lost in the Fulvia HF's looks alone would be a mistake because she is much more than just a pretty face. She is one of those rare apparitions of which men desire more than any other. A deadly and desirable combination of both beauty and success.

Don't be fooled by Lancia's bad press regarding engineering and reliability, that came later on in their history. The Fulvia HF is regarded as an exceptionally well made car, and was manufactured to a very high standard back in the 1960's. As a result, it made for a fantastic rally car. Lancia's legendary rally success all began here with this beautiful little car.

Mechanically speaking what made it special? Well it was front-wheel drive for a start, and in the rally scene this was something a bit different. In this era many competitors were still going for rear-wheel drive and while the Fulvia HF failed to impress in a straight line, around the corners it was an absolute gem. It was light (around 900kg) and in full rally mode it would be producing over 150bhp from its Lancia V4 1.6l engine, so on any slightly slippery surfaces it tended to do pretty well. Where its competitors would struggle to put power down, the Fulvia HF's front-wheel drive layout would grip and take off, sending it to attack the next corner and so on and so forth.

After a period of successful racing across Europe through the end of the 60s and early 70s, Lancia won the first of its 11 World Rally Championships in 1972. The competition was then known as the International Championship for Manufacturers, and Lancia were taken to the title by its drivers; Simo Lampinen, Harry Källström, Sandro Munari, and Amilcare Ballestrieri. Munari won the prestigious Monte Carlo rally, Lampinen won in Morroco, and Ballestrieri won on home soil at the Rallye Sanremo.

With its achievements on the rally stages in mind, it is perhaps not unexpected that on the road the car was just as sweet to drive. The HF was introduced as the edgy, sporty version of the Fulvia range in 1965, and it was certainly made sportier. Lancia replaced the bonnet, the doors, and the boot lid with aluminium replacements, and that famous v4 Lancia engine was tuned to produce 88bhp. As time went by that V4 was increased in capacity and by the end of its run you could buy one for road use with around 130bhp, I imagine that was quite a car.

It's a special car with a very special history and even better, a car that is absolutely obtainable to collectors if you really want to get behind the wheel of one. Maintenance and up keep is affordable and crucially, buying the car in the first place doesn't cost the earth. You'll perhaps want to try and get the famous Fulvia HF 'Fanalone' Edition (Slang for 'Big Breasts', referencing the big lights fitted), so that will mean paying a bit more, but take a look at this beast in my native England over with the guys at Targa Florio Classics: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . There are more than a few guys in the world with that kind of cash spare. If you have it, do yourself a favour and buy a Fulvia HF. You can thank me later.

Proportionally one of the most beautiful cars I have ever come across, a rally legend, and an enthusiasts dream, there really isn't much bad you can say about the Fulvia HF. It is one of my goals in life to be able to drive one of these before I pop my clogs, preferably around glorious Italy alongside the woman I love. What else can I say? It's easily one of the Best of Europe, and it makes me very sad indeed that modern day Lancia has fallen so far from the levels it was once keeping.

DISCUSSION (16)

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 09:09

World needs moar V4!

Roberto G. > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 09:21

Beautiful article, thank you!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW.
03/23/2014 at 09:24

It sure does. This was the last Lancia to have a V4 as far as I know.

That Fulvia rally video sounds awesome doesn't it!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > Roberto G.
03/23/2014 at 09:25

Thanks Autovox! Really appreciate that!

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 09:42

Kinja'd!!!

I absolutely love these things. I continually regret not picking up a tidy 1.3S I saw for sale a couple of years ago. Compared to the prices today it was an absolute steal at £1750 if my memory serves me correctly.

I will own one one day. They're just a perfect automotive design.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
03/23/2014 at 09:49

It's such a balanced and proportionate design. Everything looks perfect in relation to everything else. It's wonderful.

Best not to look back and regret, look forward and be excited. One day you'll have one and it will be awesome!

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 10:57

Really nice article on one of my favorite designs. "Proportionally one of the most beautiful cars I have ever come across..." Definitely. The Alfas, Lancias and BMWs of that era had that certain economy and lightness of design, with just that right combination of curves and straight lines that are so pleasing to the eye. Thanks for posting!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > JACU - I've got bonifides.
03/23/2014 at 11:06

Thank you very much, It always puts a big grin on my face when somebody stops by to post a comment saying they liked my article that much.

The first two photographs are of a Fulvia HF I found at the back of a motor show, well away from all the action. You'd almost never have known it was there! They always seem to be hiding at the back somewhere. You're dead right about that era, the designs of these cars were so simplistic, yet elegant.

She's one of those ones where the more you look at her, the more you love her.

JACU - I've got bonifides. > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/23/2014 at 11:08

I know if I owned one, I would be a member of a jolly club indeed!

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > JACU - I've got bonifides.
03/23/2014 at 11:17

I bet that gag is on page one of the 'Lancia Fulvia's After Dinner Speakers Guide'!

signintokinjalol > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
03/24/2014 at 19:27

Kinja'd!!!

Ugh...

So good.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > signintokinjalol
03/24/2014 at 19:39

Beautiful piece of automotive design. It's all about that perfect proportion.

ppannozz > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
08/15/2014 at 03:12

HF was not an Italian club but the designation given to it by Lancia.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge)
08/15/2014 at 06:05

I really, really want one of these. A couple of years back I passed up on a solid running 1.3S for ~£1750. I've been kicking myself to this day that I didn't buy it as they're ~£17k now. I don't care about the lost value, more that it'll be harder to get one now.

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > ppannozz
08/15/2014 at 08:37

'The HF symbol, the contraction of High Fidelity, owes its origin to the Lancia Hi. Fi. Club, which draws its members from loyal Lancia clients according to strict rules of elegibility which govern membership. The Club was founded in 1960 and the HF was taken as its logo.'

Jonny Edge (@thejonnyedge) > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires
08/15/2014 at 08:42

Getting harder and harder to get. I had a chance to buy a Ferrari 308 for £12k a few years back. Kicking myself now!